Adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingot molds

ABSTRACT

Adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingot molds comprise a pair of longitudinally adjustable mmebers having angular end sections with serrated surfaces whereby the overall length of the individual device may be adjusted to fit the corresponding inside dimension of an ingot mold in which oppositely disposed pairs of side boards have been positioned.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,847,343 LaBate Nov. 12, 1974 ADJUSTABLESELF WEDGING DEVICES, 3,092,883 6 1963 Ednell 249 199 170 SIDE BOARDS 1INGOT MOLDS 3,432,138 3/l969 Shephard et al 249/200 X [76] Inventor:James B. LaBate, Chippewa Park FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS Rd, B aFalls, 010 602,356 2 1960 Italy 249 202 [22] Filed: Oct. 31, 1973 P E Rb Id rimary xaminero ert D. Ba win [21] Appl' 411548 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Webster B. Harpman 249/202, 57 ABSTRACT n 158 Field 61 Search249/106 197- 02 Adjustable wedging devices for Sid? boards in 248/351354 P 354 R 354 s C 5 ingot molds comprise a pair of longitudinallyadjustable mmebers having angular end sections with serrated surfaceswhereby the overall length of the indi- [56] References Cited vidualdevice may be adjusted to fit the corresponding UNlTED STATES PATENTSinside dimension of an ingot mold in which oppositely 891,897 6/l908Astrom 248/357 x Fiisposed Pairs of Side boards have been Positioned-1,711,725 5 1929 Edwards et al 248/354 P X 6 Claims 4 Drawing Figures2,921,772 1/1960 Boyd 248/354 S X ADJUSTABLE SELF WEDGING DEVICES FORSIDE BOARDS IN INGOT MOLDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION across the top ofthe mold and suspending the side boards therefrom as in US. Pat. No.3,103,045 wherein additional metal clips are secured to the sideboardswhich adhere to the molten metal and the mold when the molten metalreaches the same. US. Pat. No. 3,362,677 discloses wire springs arrangedin a rectangular framework acting to hold sections of the hot top orside boards against the inside of an ingot mold and still other priorart devices may be seen in US. Pats. No. 3,421,731, 3,722,848, 3,713,621and 3,746,298. This invention provides adjustable self wedging devicesfor holding side boards in ingot molds which may.

be readily assembled from several components to provide devices ofvarious lengths such as for example those capable of spanning the widestdimension of a rectangular ingot mold, the narrowest dimension thereofand by shortening the self wedging devices to their shortest capabilitythe devices can be positioned across the corners so as to hold four sideboards against the respective innersurfaces of the ingot mold.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Adjustable self wedging devices for positioningside boards in ingot molds comprise simply constructed, in'- expensive,expendible elongated members formed of several parts fastened to oneanother to form a desirable length with respect to the inner dimensionsof an ingot mold so that tensioned angularly disposed distortable endsections of the devices will engage side boards positioned in an ingotmold and position them tightly against the walls of the ingot mold andthereby hold them in desired position when 'molten metal is poured inthe mold.

. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view ofan adjustable self wedging device showing the left end separate and theright end assembled,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 3 is a top plan'view of a portion of an ingot mold and side boardspositioned on its inner surfaces and illustrating an adjustable selfwedging device partially positioned therein, and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of an ingot mold and side boardspositioned thereinand illustrating one of the self wedging devices inposition therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the form of the inventionchosen for illustration and description herein the adjustable selfwedging devices for side boards in ingot molds comprise a pair of suchdevices, one of which is illustrated in exploded detail in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, and. by referring thereto it will be seen that there is anelongated channel member 10 having a plurality of apertures 11 inwardlyof each end and a pair of end sections 12 and l3,-each of which has aplurality of apertures 14 therein. The ends sections 12 and 13 are alsochannel shaped and slightly larger than the section 10 so that they willslidably engage one anotherto bring the apertures 11 and 14 intoregistry so that fasteners such as pins 15 may be positionedtherethrough to hold the devices in assembly whereby the threecomponents cannot move longitudinally relative to one another.

Each of the end sections 12 and 13 have angularly disposed end portions16 and 17 which are transversely flat at their point of junction withthe channel shaped sections 12 and 13 so as to be distortable orbendable at these points and so that the resulting structure will betensioned by the distortion of the end portions 16 and 17 relativethereto.

Each of the end portions 16 and 17 have a plurality of serrations l8 and19 formed on their longitudinal edges as by notching flanges extendingpartially there-. along. The longitudinal section 111) may be straightas illustrated in FIG. 1 and hereinbefore described or it may beprovided with an outwardly projecting offset portion or a centralsection thereof may be bowed outwardly as will occur to those skilled inthe art.-

By referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that thefastener 15 comprises a pin a portion of which has been headedsufficiently to retain the pin in position. Alternately the pin may bepress fit in the apertures l1 and 14 as the shearing force impartedthereagainst by the respective portions of the adjustable self wedgingdevice will normally secure the fastener 15 in position.

By referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a top plan view of a portionof ingot mold M may be seen with the top edges of three side boards Spositioned therein against the inner surfaces thereof in which the hotmetal is to be poured and one of the adjustable self wedging devices ofthe present invention may be seen partially positioned therein. Brokenlines on the outer surface of the central section 10 of thedeviceindicate the alternate formation of an offset section 10A which may beformed integrally with the central section 10 or added thereto asdesired and which offset section 10A will engage one of the side boardsS when the device is positioned between and engaged on the other twoside boards S.

By referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings a top plan view of the righthand portion of an ingot mold may be seen in which three side boards Shave been positioned against the inner walls and held by one of theadjustable self wedging devices of the invention and it will be seen ithat the same has been forcibly moved into engagement with the end wallof the ingot mold was to contact the same while the serrated distortableend portions 16 and 17 thereof have engaged in the inner surfaces of theother two side boards S.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that the device requiresforceful installation so that the serrations 18 and 19 on thedistortable end portions 16 and 17 will bite into the inner surfaces ofthe side boards S against which they are positioned while at the sametime the central bowed or offset section 10A which may be al-' ternatelyincluded in the structure will engage the third side board in the end ofthe ingot mold.

Those skilled in the art will observe that when the side boards containexothermic materials the temperature of the metal being poured in theingot mold is desirably controlled thereby and the positioning of theside boards is thus essential to the proper pouring and desirableformation of the ingot in the ingot mold. The side boards with which theadjustable self wedging devices are used are consumable and the devicesthemselves are expendible as the metal thereof becomes part of the ingotbeing poured.

The above described, adjustable, self wedging devices for side boards iningot molds provide relatively easy and fast positioning of the sideboards in the ingot molds and insure their proper positioning andretention during the subsequent pouring of an ingot in the ingot mold.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Lengthwise adjustable. self wedging devices for side boards in ingotmolds comprising a pair of elongated metal members, each of whichconsists of a central section and a pair of end sections adjustablysecured thereto, oppositely disposed angularly positioned distortableend portions on each of said end sections,

sharp pointed portions extending outwardly on each of said end portionsand arranged to be embedded in said side boards when said self wedgingdevices are forcibly positioned between said side boards in said ingotmold so as to hold the same in position therein.

in ingot molds set forth in claim 1 and wherein the central section andthe end sections of the elongated metal members are channel shaped.

4. The adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingot moldsset forth in claim 1 and wherein said central section of said elongatedmetal member is outwardly bowed.

5. The adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingot moldsset forth in claim 1 and wherein offset sections are formed on saidcentral section of said elongated metal members.

6. The adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingot moldsset forth in claim 1 and wherein said elongated metal members arechannel shaped in cross section and sections of the distortable endportions are transversely flat at their point of engagement with saidend sections.

1. Lengthwise adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingotmolds comprising a pair of elongated metal members, each of whichconsists of a central section and a pair of end sections adjustablysecured thereto, oppositely disposed angularly positioned distortableend portions on each of said end sections, sharp pointed portionsextending outwardly on each of said end portions and arranged to beembedded in said side boards when said self wedging devices are forciblypositioned between said side boards in said ingot mold so as to hold thesame in position therein.
 2. The adjustable self wedging devices forside boards in ingot molds set forth in claim 1 and wherein theelongated metal members are relatively rigid and the oppositely disposeddistortable end portions are resiliently movable relative thereto. 3.The adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingot molds setforth in claim 1 and wherein the central section and the end sections ofthe elongated metal members are channel shaped.
 4. The adjustable selfwedging devices for side boards in ingot molds set forth in claim 1 andwherein said central section of said elongated metal member is outwardlybowed.
 5. The adjustable self wedging devices for side boards in ingotmolds set forth in claim 1 and wherein offset sections are formed onsaid central section of said elongated metal members.
 6. The adjustableself wedging devices for side boards in ingot molds set forth in claim 1and wherein said elongated metal members are channel shaped in crosssection and sections of the distortable end portions are transverselyflat at their point of engagement with said end sections.